Leicester Oral History Archive collection

Physical detail

Number of items in the collection: 1000 items
Venues where material can be listened to: Record Office
Media available on: Cassette and CD

Collection history

The Leicester Oral History Collection is an extensive collection comprising 505 interviews with people from all areas of Leicester City and the county of Leicestershire. The interviews were recorded for the Leicester Oral History Archive between 1983 and 1989 as a project for the Manpower Services Commission. The original collection was deposited with the Leicester Records Office for safekeeping, in 1990, and has been catalogued into the EMOHA. The Leicester Oral History Archive is the largest single collection in the EMOHA.

Interview extracts from parts of the collection were compiled into themed recordings on cassette. These cover a wide range of subjects and were available on sale to the general public. They form a sub-collection under the title Leicester Oral History Archive Collection Compilation. Copies are held in the EMOHA and are available for listening.

What the collection contains

The collection covers memories of Leicester and Leicestershire from the 1890s to the 1990s in both urban and rural settings, and from a variety of social, ethnic & religious backgrounds. Interviews cover subjects such as childhood, health, transport, local studies, housing, politics, World Wars I and II, women’s lives, shopping, events, entertainment, migration and work.

British Empire and Commonwealth Related Material

EMOHA ref: 740, LO/108/059
Name: Singh, C.
Details: India to Leicester
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 755, LO/123/074
Name: Blinn, Helena
Details: New Zealand, Australia and South Africa various work experience during World War II
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 793, LO/157/108
Name: Johnstone, W.E.
Details: Palestine Policeman 1929-1949
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 987, LO/342/293
Name: Hector, J.
Details: Antigua to USA then UK 1950s
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 986, LO/341/292
Name: Nath K.
Details: India to London 1963, retired to Leicester
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 980, LO/335/286
Name: John, I.
Details: Antigua 1955
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 975, LO/330/281
Name: Coker, A.
Details: Jamaica to England 1961 to Leicester 1964
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 974, LO/329/280
Name: Clarke, S.
Details: Jamaica to UK 1961
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 972, LO/327/278
Name: Anon, F
Details: West Indian - Montserrat 1956
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 970, LO/325/276
Name: Kapur, S.
Details: Punjab to UK 1965
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 969, LO/324/275
Name: Hindocha, L.
Details: India to Leicester 1983
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 967, LO/322/273
Name: Daley, C.
Details: Montserrat to London 1955 to Leicester 1960
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 962, LO/317/268
Name: Sandhu.
Details: Punjab to England London 1962, then Leicester
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 938, LO/293/244
Name: Lewis, M.
Details: Travel to Australia early 20th Century
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 936, LO/291/242
Name: Bevin, F.
Details: Travel to Australia early 20th century
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 934, LO/289/240
Name: Pandirker, S.
Details: Honnavar in North Kanara district of South India to Leicester on marriage
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 923, LO/278/229
Name: Batty, R.
Details: India to England 1960
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 919, LO/274/225
Name: Mashru, M.
Details: Uganda to England 1972
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 911, LO/266/217
Name: Anon (F).
Details: Kenya- Uganda to Leicester
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 886, LO/250/201
Name: Anon (F).
Details: East Africa to Leicester in 1966
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 866, LO/230/181
Name: Anon
Details: India to Nairobi to England 1967
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 864, LO/228/179
Name: Sharma, C.
Details: India to Kenya to Uganda to England 1972 Teacher
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 836, LO/200/151
Name: Ganatra, G.
Details: India to Uganda to Tanzania to UK
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 829, LO/193/144
Name: Haq, A.
Details: 1938 to Leicester from India Pakistani
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 820, LO/184/135
Name: Desi, J.
Details: Visiting from India
Language: English

EMOHA ref: 1170, LO/517/467
Name: Horton, M.
Details: India to Leicester
Language: English